Bob Cornelius ‘86 and his son, Christopher, started a worldwide friendship movement!

Bob Cornelius ’86 posted about his son, Christopher, and parenting on Facebook last September after attending a Back-to-School parent/teacher night. He read his son’s assignment and was deeply affected by his response to the question “Some of my friends are _____. Christopher’s response was “no one.”

Bob’s reaction started a global conversation about the importance of identifying and connecting with those who are different and understanding their valuable perspective. Christopher made friends from all over the world! We are proud to count you as a Robinson alumnus and a friend. Congratulations to you and Christopher on sparking this important conversation. Kudos to you for playing the post powerful and important role of a lifetime: Dad.

Meet Bob Cornelius ’86 and his son, Christopher!

Click on Christopher assignment below for Bob’s response as a father and the post that started a movement!

According to Bob, he gave “a brief, ten minute radio interview on a Kansas City talk show (we live in New Jersey) and did not give it much thought after that. However, the story went viral shortly after, and it wasn’t long before the story was shared around the globe – France, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland. More than 54.5K times!

Click here for the report Huffington Post published on the Christopher’s story.

Letters started pouring in from around the country and around the world! Click here to learn more about the friendship ripple effect Christopher caused.

Watch a video made by some of Christopher’s first friends! See his other new friends reach out here and here!

Christopher’s story appeared on ABC news! Even celebrities reached out to become friends! Julie Chen discussed Christopher and Bob’s story on TV’s The Talk.

SpongeBob (or at least his creators) sent him a letter, a drawing and their friendship! Click below to read the letter.

Even Ashton Kutcher shared the story!

Christopher even made a friend from a galaxy far, far away when Princess Leia (aka, Carrie Fisher) and her mom, Debbie Reynolds, reached out!

(Click on the images below for some famous scenes from both of these legendary actresses. Sorry! I just couldn’t resist!)

Finally, the most influential figure on the planet reached out – God.

As Bob put it, “I knew it, but now I have proof. God loves Christopher. Even God (or at least His profile of Facebook) reached out to Christopher!

Join Friends of Christopher on Facebook. Let him know that we are all just friends who haven’t met yet! Thank you for spreading this spirit of friendship, Christopher and Bob! Please add all of Robinson School to your growing list of friends.